THREE (3) NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAYS!

Who knew that the good old USA actually has THREE (3) official days to honor Chocolate?
July 7th is officially recognized by Congress, as “National Chocolate Day.”
October 28 is commercially known as “National Chocolate Day” in the United States,
and December 28 is both a National and “International Chocolate Day!”

So there actually ARE three National Chocolate Days to honor that luscious substance!

Congress set aside July 7th as National Chocolate day. The National Confectioners Association set aside October 28th to celebrate all things Chocolate. December 28th is officially International Chocolate day. There is very little information behind International Chocolate Day, but perhaps it is because there is so much chocolate left over after Christmas, that it just seemed right to honor it.

I’m thinking that on all three of these days there should be HUGE sales in the stores with rock bottom prices for all manner of chocolate goodies, and a much bigger deal should be made out of it than already is!

Personally I think that National Chocolate Day should not be limited to three days, but be celebrated every single day, and I do!!

Here are five things to know about Chocolate:
(From: foodimentary.com)

Switzerland is one of the top countries for chocolate consumption. The Swiss consume about 22 lbs of chocolate, per person, per year.

Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Perhaps this is where they saying “Money grows on trees” came from.

Allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces the same or even stronger reactions as passionately kissing.

Most cocoa comes from West Africa.

I grew up in Cameroon, West Africa, and we ate chocolates made from the Cocao Beans that actually had been grown there, exported to Great Britain, processed into lovely chocolates, and ultimately imported back into Cameroon in chocolate bars or boxes of delicious chocolate confections. My very favorites were Cadbury Candy Bars and Rowntree Chocolates. I still have found few others that compare to them, and the best of those still come directly from England, though Hersheys has now instituted a ban on importing Cadbury Chocolate.
There is always time to celebrate with some dark or sweet and delicious CHOCOLATE! Here are two of my favorite “chocolatey” recipes to share with you today. Both of these are guilt free, low carb, low sugar, suitable for diabetic eating plans and gluten free.

The more National Chocolate days we have is perfectly fine with me! European chocolate is the absolute best! It’s so rich and doesn’t have the waxy taste that seems so common with American chocolates. I want to look for Rowntree brand. Haven’t had that!

Rowntrees started in York England 150 years ago. They were the first to make the Kitkat bar. Nestles bought them out in 1988, I think. I used to buy them over the border in Canada. The Aero candy bar came from Rowntrees, and is SO delicious! Don’t know if anything is still sold under the Rowntrees name.

Marji this is an interesting post! I didn’t know you grew up in Africa, or the five chocolate facts you mentioned. (number four is especailly intriguing!) I’ll go take a peak at those healthy recipes for sure. I have been having major chocolate attacks lately and my husband bought three HUGE bottle of chocolate sauce!